Slab hot top



July 27, 1937. w. M. CHARMAN l 2,088,288 SLAB HOT TOP Filed July 2l, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 27, 1937. w M, CHARMAN 2,088,288

SLAB HOT TOP Filed July 21, 195s s sheets-sheet s @l I www ATTORNEY;

. form of removable trunnions.-

Patented July 2?,"193'2'` UNITED STATES- oFFlcE This invention relates to improvements in slab use in connection hot tops, that is hot tops for with slab ingot molds.

One ofthe objects of the invention `is the provision of a hot top for slab ingot molds so constructed as to sharply constrict the hot topped metal at the ends thereof while at the'same time maintaining a substantially even taper throughout the upper portion of thehot topped metal.

and moreespecially the provision of means for accomplishing these results in connection with a base for the hot top of approximately equal width throughout its extent.

Another object is the provision of a casing cer` tain surfaces of which have a. plurality of tapers in the up and down direction, together with means for mounting lining elements on such surf aces.-

Another object is the provision of a novel method .of assembling or mounting a hot top in or upon-a big-end-down mold, where the hottop is equipped with wiper strips.

Still another object is the provision of a special A further object is the provision of removable and renewablesocket members for spring clips employed-to secure bottom lining elements tothe casing. Y

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of those embodiments of the invention which, for the' purposes of the ypresent application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure'l is a'. side elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section, ofa slab hot topembodying the invention. j

Fig. 21s a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, with certain Vparts shown .in horizontal section.

Fig. 4 i's a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental longitudinal central sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

viewlof the casiillustrating a method which I 'employ for assembling in this type of molda hot top equipped with wiper strips. I

5 5. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the hot top 'suspended from the mold entirely'within the walls of the mold, and Y Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line IIl-l 0 of Fig. 8.

-The casing .illustrated in the drawings is preferably an iron casting, and as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive comprises side walls I0 and end walls Il.' The hot top is of the type which is adapted to extend down into the mold and to iloat upon Vthe ingot when poured, the perimeter of the hot top casing having the same contour as the inner wall of the mold, but being of such size as to aiord a small clearance all around. Running around Y' the bottom of the casing there is an internal ledge I2, which is preferably of approximately the same width throughout its extent.

The outer surfaces of walls Il! and Il are pref-, erably vertical. as shown.` The inner surfaces of the sidewalls I0 however incline or taper upy wardly toward each other, as illustrated at I l in Fig. 4. The walls Il at the ends are formed with internal-tapers ofv at least two diilerent inclina- -tions or angles with thevertical. and theend walls, except at the bottom, may be quite thick.. In the construction illustrated there are two such end tapers I4 and I5, the upper taper Il corresponding substantially with the taper I3 on the side. walls, while-the lower taper I5 makes a considerable'ang'le with the vertical. The tapers ll and I5 meet at an intermediate ledge I6. which extends inwardly from each end wall of the cas ing.- The middle portion of this ledge is spaced both vertically and horizontally from the ledge I2,

- although at its ends the ledge IB curves into the same vertical planes approximately with the side portions of ledge I2. See the dotted line disclosure ofFlg. 3.

VThe ledge I-2 supports at each end of the casing a plurality, preferably two, of preformed lining blocks I'l and I8 which iit the inner walls4 of the casing, rest upon the ledge I2, and engage beA neath or just clear` the ledges I6. The outer side edges of both blocks I1 and I8 are preferably beveled. oli', as indicated in Fig. 3.

Above the ledges- I6 and supported thereby are blocks I9 and 2D, preferably provided with downwardly extending lips overhanging the ledges I6 and substantially meeting the upper edges of blocks Il and I8 so as-to protect the ledges. Above the blocks I8 and 20 are additional blocks 2-I and 22. The blocks I9 and 2| are identicalinsize and form, while the blocks 22 are smaller than the blocks 20, theblocks 20 and 22'being tapered toward their upper ends. It will be unare preferred because of their simplicity. The

ber of lining blocks may be employed to cover the end portion of the casing, 4but it will generally be desirable to employ more than one course above the ledge I5 because of the inconvenience` and practical diiiiculties presented bythe manufacture of large size lining blocks.

The sides of the casing are lined with blocks 23, which have parallel sides like the blocks I8 and 2 I, and are beveled on theirside edges in the same way as are the blocks I8 and 2I.

When all of the blocks I1 and I8 are tion the operator may slide the two lower blocks 23 downwardly into position. All of these blocks are then locked against falling inwardly, because of the beveled edges. Other forms of interiitting edges could be employed, but the beveled edges operator next places the corner blocks 2|! at one end of the `casing in position, supporting them upon the ledge I5, after which he slides the block I8 down between them, thereby locking these three end blocks against inward movement, the lower side blocks 23 being longer than the blocks I1 and I8 so that they projectupwardly well beyond the bases of the blocks I9 and therefore constitute abutments on the side towards the middle of `the hot top. The operator then proceeds in thesame way to placein position the blocks I9 and 20 at the opposite end of the casing, after which the second course of side blocks 23 are slid downwardly into place. These second course blocks 23 project upwardly far enough beyond the blocks I9 and 20 to constitute temporary abutments for the placing of the two sets of end blocks 2| and 22 the same way that the lower blocks acted to temporarily hold the end blocks I8 and 28. Slipping the upper course blocks 23 into position then completes the assembly, except for such cementing of the joints as may be necessary, and except for the mounting of the bottom ring or other covering for the lower ledge I2.

As a lining for the lower ledge I2 I prefer to 4 employ a single bottom ring 24 of refractory material of the character disclosed in application for U. S. Patent Serial No. 595,579, filed by Philip R. Ward and myself on February 27, 1932, and to hold'this ring in position by spring clips 25 of the character disclosed in applicationv Serial No. 592,886 filed February 15, 1932. 'I'his ring comprises a flat horizontal portion 25 covering the lower surface of the ledge I2 and an upwardly extending ange 21 covering the inner side ofthe ledge. The latter is preferably recessed at 28 to receive a sheet metal wiper strip 23, see particularly Fig. -'l.

One end of the clip 25 rests in a shouldered cavity 30 formed in the flange 21 of the ring. The other end of the clip is sprung into an opening in the casing just above the ledge I2. A

over which the end of the hollow socket member is rolled lor peened, whereby the socket member is fixed in place. 'I'his fastening is covered nor-f mally by the lining of the hot top, so that there is no danger of its becoming loosened accidentally. When the socket member becomes worn to such an extent that it does not readily hold -the end in posi-v A of a clip it may be removed and a new one inserted. If this is done whenever the upper lin-l ing of the hot top is replaced, the socket members will always be in good condition.

In the thick portions of the casing at the ends thereof, I form aligned openings 33 which are preferably of square or other non-circular cross section, and may extend entirely through the casing walls. 'Irunnions 34 are removably mounted in these openings. They have outer portions of circular cross section, collars 35 to limit the movement of the trunnions into the casing and inner portions 35 of the same cross sectional size and shape, approximately, as the openings 33. The openings 33 are located in a vertical plane of symmetry of the casing and at the same level approximately as the center of gravity of the casing or of the complete hot top. Hence the h ot top, when mounted upon the trunnions, may be turned over for inspection or repair with very little effort. It is sometimes desirable to lower a hot top Aof this character into a mold farther than the ordinary trunnions will permit, and this may be accomplished by the removal vof my trunnions 34.

For convenience in handling): mount two sets of threaded posts 31 and one s'et of threaded posts 38 in threaded openings in the top of the casing, the thickness ofthe end walls of the casing making it readily possible to do this. These posts are and the threaded posts of the preferred form of i the invention. Hence I have shown trunnions 43 cast integral with the end walls of the casing and lifting arms 44 also cast integral with the casing and protruding laterally therefrom. The lower lining blocks 45 are substantially identical with the blocks I1 and I8 of the first described form of the invention, while the upper lining blocks for the end of the hot top rest upon an intermediate ledge 45 similar to the ledge I5. The end blocks 41, 48, 49 and 50 are substantially the same as endA blocks I9, 20, 2I and 22. nOn the sides of the casing however I have used in this instance but two courses of blocks 5I, which are identical with thel blocks 23 except as to dimensions. The bottom ring 24' is also similar to ring 24 of the first-form.

' When the hot top is to be employed in connection with a big-end-up mold, and lowered into the mold from above in the conventional manner, the wiper strips 29 are arranged as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to use the hot top with a big-end-down mold however, I mount the wiper strips 29 in a reversed position, that is with the outer portions thereof deflected downwardly, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and proceed to raise the hot top from the bottom of the mold to pouring position instead of lowering it to that position from above in the conventional manner. My novel method `of procedure is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

In these figures' a big-end-down hoty top is l shown at 52, resting upon a floor surface indicated at 53. Upon the same floor surface I supceive a supporting bar 56 mounted in the aligned l.,

posts 38 at the ends of the hot top casing I l. The horse 54 is so made and proportionedvthat it can extend upwardly through the hot top to engage bar 56. 'Ihe suspension of the hot top above the floor surface is desirable in order to relieve the refractory bottom ring 26, and the fastenings by which it is mounted, of the weight of the iron casing and the upper linings.

In carrying out this method-of assembly, the hot top is first mounted upon the Ahorse 54, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10, after which the mold 52 is lowered into position around the hot top,

as indicated in Fig. 8. Cranelhooks are then is the predetermined pouring position, the raising of the hot top is interrupted at that level, the bar 56 is removed, and bars 59 and 60 are placed in the upper openings of the posts 31. These bars are longer than the-bars 51 and-56 and overhang the side walls of the mold 52. Wooden or other blocks 6I are then inserted between the top of the mold and the ends of bars 59 and 60,.

after which the lifting'hooks are disconnected and the weight of the hot top is supported upon the mold. The mold may then be lifted with a Isuitable crane to a height sufficient to clear the i horse 54, after which the crane may be operated to transport the mold with its hot top attached thereto to the 'station at which it is to be located when the metal is poured. y

When the metal is poured the wiper strip 25' prevents the flow of metal upwardly around the hot top in a manner well understood in the art. After the conclusion of the pouring operation the blocks 6| are knocked out or otherwise removed and the hot top floats upon the ingot in amanner also well understood in the'art.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the hot top supported in a pouring position entirely within the walls of the mold 52, the/difference in elevation of the hot top between. this figure and Fig. 8 serving to indicate the wide variation lin the size of the ingots which maybe produced witha given set of apparatus. In this case the hot top is raised from itsprimary position at the bottom of the mold by means of hooks applied to the bar 56,

or otherwise, after which hooks 62Yare caused to engage bars 63 and 64 mounted in the upper openings of posts 31, these hooks having eyes at their upper extremities through which are threaded bars 65 and 66 vthat are long. enough to overhang the walls of the mold. Wooden or other blocks 61 are then positioned between the bars 65 and 66 on the one hand and the upper end of the mold on the other hand, whereby the weight of the hot top is taken bythe mold, and

the latter with the hot top thus supported upon it may be raised and transported in the same manner as stated in connection with the description of Fig. 8. The -lengths of the hooks 62`and Variations from the described structuremay be employed. Accordingly I desire lt to be understood that the scope of theinventlon is to bev regarded as defined exclusively by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description or the accompanying illustration.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: b 1. In a hot top, acasing, two opposite internal surfaces of said casing'belng inclined inwardly and'upwardly, and two remaining internal surfaces being each composed of two different inwardly and upwardly inclined parts, the lower part making a larger angle with the vertical than the upper part, and lining blocks tted to and mounted upon all of saidinclined surfaces.

2. In'a casing for a, hot top,'a body member having inwardly and upwardly inclined internal side surfaces, and having internal end surfaces each composed of two different inwardly and upwardly inclined parts, the lower end partmaking a, larger angle with the vertical than the upper end part, and means for supporting lining elements upon said casing.

3. In a slabl hot top, a casing, an internal lower ledge extending around the casing, intermediate ledges extending inwardly from the opposite end portions only of the casing at a level above and spaced from said first named ledge, said upper ledges being spaced inwardly from said lower ledge at the ends of the casing, and the walls'of the casing between said ledges being inclined ata greater angle to the vertical than the other internal surfaces of the casing.

4; In a slab hot top, a casing having a lower internalv ledge-on its side walls and having lower and upper internal ledges on its end walls, the

end wall taper below the upper ledge making a I greater angle with the vertical than the end wall taper above the upper ledge, upwardly tapered lining blocks supported upon the ledges at the ends of the casing, and side walls lining blocks with parallel side-edges, said last named lining blocks being supported upon. said lower ledge and having side edges interfltted with the adjacentcertainof the-key blocks of'one of said courses v overlapping in an up and down direction the tapered blocks of another course, whereby they assist in the placement of the blocks of the latter course during assembly.

6. In a hot top, a. casing elongated in one horizontal direction, a ledge on each of the internal end walls of the casing spaced from the bottom thereof, said casing having different internal inwardly and upwardly lnclined\surfaces above andA below said ledge, the upper\surface making a smaller angle with the verticalthan the lower surface, preformed rigid lining blocks supported upon said ledge, preformed rigid lining' blocks fitted to the lower inclined surface and carried by the casing, and\preformed rigid lining blocks fitted to and `carried upon the vinthe casing. 

